D-Rays Bandwagon!! All Aboard!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[tommydale1]

The D-Rays are an exciting, young offensive team with a future ace (Kazmir). The problem, other than experience, is the rest of the pitching staff. If you are their GM, who do you trade for pitching?

Baldelli
Upton
Young
Huff
Cantu
Gomes
Crawford

[Senior skittles]

I want to get rid of none of them!! We need pitching i know but we picked some guys up in the draft witch will help.... One good free agency may push us over the top if we can get 1 or 2 more quality starters.... I think that if we did make a trade you might think gathright or hollins may go..But sadly my favorite d ray carl crawford may be the odd man out and be traded this year. He is only 23 ( i think) and has so mutch potiential!!!!! I see them making a move with him that they end up regretting a few years down the line...

[Captain Cold Nose]

I want to get rid of none of them!! We need pitching i know but we picked some guys up in the draft witch will help.... One good free agency may push us over the top if we can get 1 or 2 more quality starters.... I think that if we did make a trade you might think gathright or hollins may go..But sadly my favorite d ray carl crawford may be the odd man out and be traded this year. He is only 23 ( i think) and has so mutch potiential!!!!! I see them making a move with him that they end up regretting a few years down the line...
I have to agree. The Tigers are currently contending because they've developed some good prospects and surrounded them with some strong veteran FA signings. If the young offensive talent comes throug, and ownership is willing to pay for good and proven pitching, not just fringe pitchers, they'll make waves.
But it's going to take a lot of get past the two-headed goliath in the Northeast. Money to burn and long reputations will draw player interest for years to come.

[Mattingly]

I have to agree. The Tigers are currently contending because they've developed some good prospects and surrounded them with some strong veteran FA signings. If the young offensive talent comes throug, and ownership is willing to pay for good and proven pitching, not just fringe pitchers, they'll make waves.
But it's going to take a lot of get past the two-headed goliath in the Northeast. Money to burn and long reputations will draw player interest for years to come.
I think that the Mets and Yanks are winning because of the combo of young guys (Reyes, Wright and Milledge) and good vets via trade (Delgado) or free agency (Beltran and Pedro). They've also finally traded Kaz Matsui, the slumping and relatively overpaid SS turned 2Bman.

With all the great picks the D-Rays have gotten for routinely finishing at or near the AL East's cellar, how many moves do they need to become a force in a division that's mostly been a 2-horse race over the past decade?

[Captain Cold Nose]

I think that the Mets and Yanks are winning because of the combo of young guys (Reyes, Wright and Milledge) and good vets via trade (Delgado) or free agency (Beltran and Pedro). They've also finally traded Kaz Matsui, the slumping and relatively overpaid SS turned 2Bman.

With all the great picks the D-Rays have gotten for routinely finishing at or near the AL East's cellar, how many moves do they need to become a force in a division that's mostly been a 2-horse race over the past decade?
I wasn't referring to the Mets, I was talking about the DRay's division rivals, thus the Yankees and Red Sox.
So, the Yankees are currently winning because the Mets young players and FA signings are panning out? :dance

[Mattingly]

I wasn't referring to the Mets, I was talking about the DRay's division rivals, thus the Yankees and Red Sox.
So, the Yankees are currently winning because the Mets young players and FA signings are panning out? :dance
Hey, watch it, you! :D You've come across my worst kept secret: I sometimes get my wires cross. :p

To me, I think that the D-Rays should worry moreso about the O's and Jays than the Yanks and Red Sox. It's those two teams (O's and Jays) that have to worry about taking 3rd place, or somehow stealing 2nd place from either of the two top teams. To me, if Tampa Bay comes in 3rd, that would truly be earth shattering (I'll post the seismic numbers when I get 'em) :waving :laugh

As to the Mets & Yanks, they both now have young guys and vets, with the Yanks having Wang, Cano, and now Cabrera and Thompson. I was more dealing with the philosophy and using a "by the way" type of aside comment than anything else. Then again, sometimes my mind outruns my keyboard, which happens. However, I type quickly, so my mind must be Speedy Gonzales right now. ;)

[Atlanta Braves Freak]

I want to get rid of none of them!! We need pitching i know but we picked some guys up in the draft witch will help.... One good free agency may push us over the top if we can get 1 or 2 more quality starters.... I think that if we did make a trade you might think gathright or hollins may go..But sadly my favorite d ray carl crawford may be the odd man out and be traded this year. He is only 23 ( i think) and has so mutch potiential!!!!! I see them making a move with him that they end up regretting a few years down the line...
Carl Crawford is my favorite D-Ray too, but I don't think they would trade him unless they were really getting top of the line pitching. Crawford is a Top 10 five-tool player in all of baseball, when his career is over he'll definetly be a hall of famer.

[Captain Cold Nose]

Carl Crawford is my favorite D-Ray too, but I don't think they would trade him unless they were really getting top of the line pitching. Crawford is a Top 10 five-tool player in all of baseball, when his career is over he'll definetly be a hall of famer.
That has been said about far, far more players than have actually gotten in. Way too early to make that assessment.

[dmay13]

One of my bfs is Huffs cousin, so I wouldn't get rid of him...in the end i'd probly trade Baldelli.

[CROM]

d-rays are definately a team on the rise.. thats if they are able to re-sign their young talent and add depth where needed.. i think piniella could have worked wonders with this team..

[redbuck]

The D-Rays don't need any pitching. Their team is solid, unbeatable right now. I wouldn't change a thing. They're so good Manny Ramirez might just switch teams for the fun of it in August.

I've said it before. The Yankees aren't very good. The Red Sox almost always collapse. The Orioles are no good and the Blue Jays, although tough, will fall late in the year. Nobody can stop the Devil Rays.

[Sweet Lou]

The D-Rays don't need any pitching. Their team is solid, unbeatable right now. I wouldn't change a thing. They're so good Manny Ramirez might just switch teams for the fun of it in August.

I've said it before. The Yankees aren't very good. The Red Sox almost always collapse. The Orioles are no good and the Blue Jays, although tough, will fall late in the year. Nobody can stop the Devil Rays.
I admire your optimism, redbuck! :clapping :gt I wouldn't be too quick to count out Toronto though.

i think piniella could have worked wonders with this team.
I too wish Piniella had stayed. Course, I wish he had stayed in Seattle, but when he went to Tampa, I was an automatic Rays fan.

Where's Piniella now, anybody know?

[baseball junkie]

Huff and Crawford will likely have to be moved due to salary issues -- which is unfortunate.

As a life-time Mets fan I'm not sold on Kazmir -- saw a lot of him before he was traded and I don't think he'll ever develop into a No. 1 starter, maybe a fantastic No. 2 starter.

But the real problem is the 800-pound gorilla in the room or the AL East if you rather -- you take your pick the Red Sox or the Yankees. I think it would be a tremendous accomplishment for the Rays to win 82 games one year soon.

Then again if they could pull off a 90 win season and nab a Wild-Card playoff berth, we've all seen what can happen from that.

[Mattingly]

How many wins in 2006? How far up in the standings at the end of this season?

[W_Marone]

Band Wagon? Gomes fan since he was in Double A right here my friend. I think they could trade away a Baldelli or Gathright for some pitching. Its not thier starters that need help it's their pen more or less, theyre terrible most of the time. This team will be in the playoff hunt next in the next two years and in the playoffs in the next three. Kazmir will most definanlty turn into a solid Ace in the MLB..he's in his early twenties he has time to develope his skills. I Also think Huff will be gone by next season, crawford im not so sure about, I think the D-rays will try thier hardest to keep one of the top three leadoff hitter on thier team. GO GOMES! (I'm goin to the D-rays/Phillies game on Sat. Kazmir is starting, and I'm hoping to get Gomes' autograph aswell.)

[Atlanta Braves Freak]

That has been said about far, far more players than have actually gotten in. Way too early to make that assessment.
I'll take a chance and put him in that future HOFer category.

[Captain Cold Nose]

I'll take a chance and put him in that future HOFer category.
Your prerogative, ABF. I myself don't rush to judge. I find people don't laugh at me so much later on.

[tommydale1]

Huff and Crawford will likely have to be moved due to salary issues -- which is unfortunate.

As a life-time Mets fan I'm not sold on Kazmir -- saw a lot of him before he was traded and I don't think he'll ever develop into a No. 1 starter, maybe a fantastic No. 2 starter.

But the real problem is the 800-pound gorilla in the room or the AL East if you rather -- you take your pick the Red Sox or the Yankees. I think it would be a tremendous accomplishment for the Rays to win 82 games one year soon.

Then again if they could pull off a 90 win season and nab a Wild-Card playoff berth, we've all seen what can happen from that.

I think Kazmir is electric, he's just adjusting to the fact that major leaguers, unlike everone else he's ever faced his entire life, can hit him. He'll be fine. I thought it was funny that you said you saw a lot of Kazmir....the funny thing is that since the trade from the Mets, no one has seen victor zambrano! That was a great deal for the D-Rays!
My opinion is that Aubrey Huff is having some serious issues hitting the ball. Keep in mind, however, that even during his breakout season a few years ago, his average wasn't very good and his bat was streaky. I mean, when he's on...he's hot. They won't get anything for gathright because he can't hit his weight, which is a shame because he's got a great glove and ...wow...can he fly. I'd lock up baldelli, crawford, and Upton. Young is problematic because he's great on the field and a cancer off of it. I'd let him come back...post some numbers...and sell high. Gomes is another streaky hitter. He ended last year on a tear and picked up hot again early this year, but where has he been lately. Youth is a blessing and a curse...you don't know if he's hot/cold or if he's just adjusting to the bigs.

[Sweet Lou]

I think Kazmir is electric, he's just adjusting to the fact that major leaguers, unlike everone else he's ever faced his entire life, can hit him. He'll be fine. I thought it was funny that you said you saw a lot of Kazmir....the funny thing is that since the trade from the Mets, no one has seen victor zambrano! That was a great deal for the D-Rays!
My opinion is that Aubrey Huff is having some serious issues hitting the ball. Keep in mind, however, that even during his breakout season a few years ago, his average wasn't very good and his bat was streaky. I mean, when he's on...he's hot. They won't get anything for gathright because he can't hit his weight, which is a shame because he's got a great glove and ...wow...can he fly. I'd lock up baldelli, crawford, and Upton. Young is problematic because he's great on the field and a cancer off of it. I'd let him come back...post some numbers...and sell high. Gomes is another streaky hitter. He ended last year on a tear and picked up hot again early this year, but where has he been lately. Youth is a blessing and a curse...you don't know if he's hot/cold or if he's just adjusting to the bigs.
This is a great analysis, tommydale. You sound like manager material...or GM material...want to come up and take care of the Cubs? :D :clapping :cool:

[yankillaz]

The D-Rays are an exciting, young offensive team with a future ace (Kazmir). The problem, other than experience, is the rest of the pitching staff. If you are their GM, who do you trade for pitching?

Baldelli
Upton
Young
Huff
Cantu
Gomes
Crawford

As much as i like a veteran figure in the Clubhouse, i get rid of Huff. But to be honest, i really like this team. They can see if the get Affeldt from KC, or Willis (If i'd be the Marlins, i send Willis to TB, and try to get players like Huff, Baldelli or some minor leaguer.

BTW, poor O's, now that this team is getting better, the O's are going to be dead last.

[tommydale1]

This is a great analysis, tommydale. You sound like manager material...or GM material...want to come up and take care of the Cubs? :D :clapping :cool:

Thanx for the compliment :D Unfortunately, as far as the Cubs job, I'm not a magician :crazy